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HB 6841

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY METHODS AND PROGRAMS FOR REDUCING RATES OF POVERTY.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kate Farrar and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a state working group to study poverty-reduction strategies, review programs, and propose pilots and policy changes, with findings reported to the legislature.

FILE NO. 930
#income #pilots #poverty #reports #socialservices #departmentof
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Bill Summary · HB 6841

Summary — HB 6841

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY METHODS AND PROGRAMS FOR REDUCING RATES OF POVERTY

Overview / Purpose

HB 6841 would create a state working group charged with studying methods, programs and pilot initiatives designed to reduce poverty rates. The stated intent is to evaluate existing programs and identify promising strategies, gaps, and policy changes that could more effectively reduce economic insecurity for low-income residents.

Key provisions (based on bill title and classification)

Note: the full bill text was not provided. The title indicates the bill’s primary components would include:
- Establishment of an interagency or multi-stakeholder working group to study poverty-reduction strategies.
- A mandate to review existing state programs, federal programs, and local pilot projects related to income support, workforce development, housing, child care, and related social services.
- An obligation to develop recommendations for new or revised programs, pilot projects, or policy changes aimed at lowering poverty rates.
- A reporting requirement to submit findings and recommendations to the General Assembly (and likely to specified state departments, e.g., the Department of Social Services).
- Potential direction to consider fiscal impacts and implementation pathways, including proposals for pilot programs.

Who would be affected

  • Low-income individuals and families: potential beneficiaries of improved or new poverty-reduction programs.
  • State agencies (e.g., Department of Social Services, workforce and education agencies): participants in the study and potential implementers of recommendations.
  • Municipalities, community-based organizations and service providers: likely consulted and impacted by proposed pilots or program changes.
  • State budget/fiscal planners: responsible for assessing and implementing costed recommendations.

Procedural history & timeline

  • Introduced: January 30, 2025; referred to Committee on Children.
  • Public hearing: February 13, 2025.
  • Joint Favorable Substitute recommended: March 6, 2025.
  • Filed with LCO: March 10, 2025; referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis: March 17, 2025.
  • Reported out of LCO and tabled for House calendar: March 24, 2025 (House Calendar No. 139).
  • House adopted Amendment Schedule A and passed the bill: May 14, 2025.
  • Senate favorable report and placed on Senate calendar (Calendar No. 508), File No. 930: May 16, 2025.

As of May 16, 2025 the bill is on the Senate calendar awaiting further action.

Potential impact

  • Short term: creation of a coordinated study, collection of evidence, and staged recommendations.
  • Medium/long term: could lead to legislative or administrative changes, new pilot programs, or reallocation of resources to reduce poverty—impacts depend on the working group’s recommendations and subsequent legislative/fiscal choices.
  • Fiscal impact: undetermined in the absence of the bill’s text; formal cost estimates would come from the Office of Fiscal Analysis.

Outstanding details / What to watch for

  • Exact composition of the working group (members, appointing authorities).
  • Specific duties, scope, and data access.
  • Deadlines for interim and final reports.
  • Whether the bill authorizes funding for pilots or implementation.
  • Any required legislative or budgetary follow-up to enact recommendations.

If you want, I can draft a one-page checklist of stakeholders and questions to monitor as the bill moves through the Senate.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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